To travel you do not have to wait for the time you go on vacation. Even on a workweek, there is a time for a trip. To diversify your weekends and to get new impressions and emotions you can make a fantastic trip embracing our programme "short breaks".

Take your friends or family, choose up to three cities you want to visit and make a fabulous journey. In this weekend tour, you can stay for a one or two nights in the places you have chosen. You can be on excursions exploring and admiring the cities during the whole day and enjoy breathtaking views of the places recollecting bright moments of your trip at night. From dawn till night you will be able to see how the cities and everything around you change. Morning day will present the architecture and the landscape in sunlight glory while night will show transformed buildings and streets sinking in illumination.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to souvenirs from Russia? Of course, it is matryoshka, balalaika, vodka and caviar. Oh, and a hat with ear flaps as well! However, the ear flap hat is now in vogue, and has ceased to be such a rarity, vodka can be bought almost anywhere in the world.

Numerous souvenir shops are vying to sell magnets, mugs and T-shirts with slogans and thematic images (flag and coat of arms of Russia, funny sayings, bears, portraits of politicians and well-known writers), sailor's striped vests, as well as handicrafts. Khokhloma, Gzhel, enamel, birch amulets and Vologda lacework… the assortment is huge! But when you make purchases, don’t lower your guard.
Some unscrupulous sellers may try to sell you cheaper and substandard imitations. Of course, most of the shops have certificates for their goods and buy them directly from factories and workshops.
To help you not to get lost in all this colorful variety and tell how and where it is better to buy particular products, we have prepared separate articles for you on Russian folk crafts.

It makes sense to look for more valuable and rare souvenirs in antique shops.
Old coins, porcelain figurines of the Soviet era, icons, clocks, badges, decorations - one does not know where to look first!
But even here there are potential pitfalls. Apart from the fact that the seller may seriously inflate the price of what you want to buy, arguing that it is older or more valuable than it really is, there may be problems taking it out of the country.

As of today, it is prohibited to take any items of cultural value (books, figurines, icons, pictures, etc.), created prior to January 1, 1964 out of the country.

Important note: items of cultural value do not include cultural goods of serial and mass production, or modern souvenirs.

However, sometimes even an item of mass production manufactured over fifty years ago may attract the close attention of the customs service. If you want to protect yourself from unforeseen delays and undesired proceedings (the item is likely to stay with you, which, alas, cannot be said of your nerve cells), you can send the purchase to your own address by mail, after packing it carefully to avoid damage. Make sure that the package has a warning sign if the item is fragile.

Are you a little confused with all this information? Our team members are always ready to help you navigate all the rules, addresses, products and prices!

You will definitely find something to your liking and within your budget with all the variety of great Russian souvenirs!

Hello, Kazan!

8:00 – 8:30 – Our guide will meet you at the Kazan Passazhirskaya station, or the Kazan Vosstaniye station.

10:45 – 11:15 - Our guide will meet you at Kazan Passazhirskaya

The guide will hand out an envelope with all the necessary information including the itinerary.

Then you will be taken to your hotel. You can leave your baggage in the hotel cloakroom. Check-in time is 13:00, but if you wish you can check in earlier for an extra charge.

The guide will meet you at one of the central hotels: the Tatarstan, the Shalyapin or the Ibis. You will have to get to the appointed place on your own.

Bus sightseeing tour. This tour is a great way to get to know all the city’s major highlights. You will drive along the Kremlin, Bulak, and Petersburg streets and see the following places of interest: Starotatarskaya Sloboda (Old Tatar Village), one of the two most prominent mosques - Äcem (Aimovskaya)or the Märcani, the Park of the Millenium of Kazan, Krestovozdvizhenskaya (Holy Cross) church with the miracle-working icon Our Lady of Kazan, Peter and Paul Cathedral, andinfrastructure from the 2013 Universiade.

Then we will head to the Kazan Kremlin, the main landmark of the city. This place has seen its share of historical events: from great Tatar states and Imperial Russia to the recent renovations and international events held in the city. Ivan the Terrible thrice failed to conquer the city.

In the 20th century Fyodor Chaliapin sang in the choir of the cathedral.

One of the most magnificent monuments – the Qol Sharif mosque, which was just built in 2005, has fit into the ensemble and become one of the symbols of the city.

The Falling Soyembika Tower, one of the world’s seven falling towers, was named after the queen Soyembika. According to the legend, the beautiful girl Soyembika threw herself out of the seventh story of the tallest building in Kazan in order to avoid becoming Ivan the Terrible’s wife.

Having heard all the legends of the Kazan Kremlin, we will proceed to the Kazan Arbat – Bauman Street. While walking along the street we will admire Catherine the Second’s carriage, the monument to Fyodor Chaliapin, and the National Bank where the Russian gold reserve used to be kept. This vibrant street combines the past with the present: numerous entertainment venues, street musicians and artists stand next to historic monuments.

Optional: if you’re eager to enjoy the panoramic views of Kazan, we invite you to take The Lights of Kazan, a night bus excursion. (Extra charge of 650 rubles)You will be able to book this in Kazan.

Day 2

Breakfast. After breakfast you will have free time to explore the city on your own.

Check out.

Guided tour of Sviyazhsk, the island town

On the way to Sviyazhsk you will see the Zilantov Monastery and the monument to Ivan the Terrible’s Army.

Sightseeing tour of Sviyazhsk, which was built in just one month after the seizure of Kazan. You will see the unique temples. One of them is the wooden Trinity Church, dating back to the XVI century, which was visited by Ivan the Terrible twice - before and after the seizure of Kazan.

Guided tour of the Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery. Its territory comprises the buildings from the XII to XIX centuries. You will have a chance to see the miracle-working icon of the Virgin of Georgia, visit the smallest church in Europe, dedicated to Faith, Love, Charity, and their mother Sofia, which can accommodate only seven people at a time, the Trinity Cathedral, and the Church in the Name of Holy fathersslain at Sinai and Raithu.